A highlight of the Pine Valley Open Space Park is a walk along the North Fork of the South Platte River.

Don’t blink or you’ll miss it, but what the tiny town of Pine Grove lacks in size, it makes up for in charm.

Three years ago Pine Grove successfully petitioned to return Pine — which it had been called since sometime before 1920 — to the name it was given when it came to be in 1886, but either way, it’s an apt moniker, because the surrounding forests make a trip to this area southwest of Denver a visual delight.

The Pine Emporium (16714 County Road 126, 303-838-5150) is part antiques shop, part art gallery, part thrift store and all fun, one of those places where it’s easy to find that four hours have passed when you thought you’d been poking around for 15 minutes in the dishes, locally made pottery, vintage linens, knick knacks, jewelry, clothes, furniture, books…the list goes on and on.

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Wandering around the Pine Emporium in Pine Grove can easily turn 15 minutes into four hours of fun.

The ramshackle, dollar-bills-stapled-to-the-walls Bucksnort Saloon (15921 Elk Creek Road, 303-838-0284) has been legendary since forever – the place started out as a mercantile around the turn of the century, and when it turned into a bar is a matter of debate, as well as whether the name of the place is one word or two, depending on whom you ask. Over the years, John Elway made it a regular stop (he rode a motorcycle there), and Neil Young ate there, and the place still has live music on the weekends that keeps the locals in the canyon up late. The half-pound burger is why people stop by, but you have to order it medium-rare, or it comes out dry.

Zoka’s Restaurant and Bar (16940 S. Pine Valley Road, 303-838-0378) is just what the area needed: a well-rounded eatery with a patio, serving a lunch menu of sandwiches, salads and snacks, with ribs, steaks and pasta at night. The spacious dining room is family-friendly, while a bar area offers a place for locals to hang out. The place is also dog-friendly, with a big front yard for Fido to chill while you dine (check out the painting of the owners’ dogs near the front door).

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The green chile-cheese fries at Zoka's in Pine Grove are a treat.

Pine Valley Open Space Park has something for everyone – you can hike, bike, ride your horse, fish, picnic, play Frisbee, kayak or just sit by the North Fork of the South Platte River and dip you’re your toes in. There’s plenty of parking, several shelters available for rent and multiple trailheads, some of which are hiker-only. Get there: From U.S. 285 at Pine Junction, turn southeast onto Pine Valley Road (County Road 126) and go 5.8 miles toward Pine Grove, then follow signs to the park.

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There are plenty of picnic spaces and places for kids ot play at Pine Valley Ranch Park near Pine Grove.

Platte River Cabins at White Pines (16525 Pine Valley Road, 303-838-9195) were built in 1878 as part of a railroad work camp, and that history, combined with their location on the South Platter River, just adds to their appeal. Each private cabin (they sleep 2-3) has been updated with modern appliances and furniture – some have hot tubs, too, but no TVs – but they still have a comfortable country feel, and you can fish about 50 feet away from their roomy decks. Rates start at $150 a night.

Note: A special guided Pine Grove walking tour of the historic buildings and sites in the area will be held May 19 starting at 9:30 a.m. Led by friends of the North Fork National Historic District, tour highlights include the cemetery, post office and other buildings on the National Register, as well as sites in Buffalo Creek. Cost is $10, with proceeds benefiting the Historic District (tour is expected to take an hour in each town). Call Joan at 303-816-9035 or email her at jomacx@msn.com (“tour” in the subject line) or Shelley at 303-838-4311 to reserve a spot.

Get there: Pine Grove is 45 miles southwest of Denver via U.S. 285 and County Road 126

Kyle Wagner is the editor of the Travel and OutWest sections at The Denver Post.

Travel and OutWest editor Kyle Wagner grew up in Pittsburgh and lived in Lake County, Ill., and Naples, Fla., before moving to Denver in 1993, where she reviewed restaurants for Westword before moving to The Denver Post in 2002. She considers the best days to be those that involve her teenage daughters and doing something outside, preferably mountain biking or whitewater rafting.

Dean Krakel is a photo editor (primarily sports) at The Denver Post. A native of Wyoming, he has authored three books, "Season of the Elk," "Downriver" and "Krakel's West." An avid kayaker, rafter, mountain biker, trail runner, telemark skier and backpacker, Dean's outdoor adventures have taken him around the world.

Douglas Brown was raised about 30 miles west of Philadelphia in West Chester, Pennsylvania, where he spent a lot of time running around in the woods and fields (where he hunted and explored), and in the ocean (where he surfed and stared at the horizon). Now he lives in Boulder and spends as much time hiking, running, skiing and boarding the High Country (and the Boulder foothills) as possible.

Ricardo Baca is the entertainment editor and pop music critic at The Denver Post, as well as the founder and executive editor of Reverb and the co-founder of The UMS. Happy days often involve at least one of these: whitewater rafting, snowshoeing, vintage Vespas, writing, camping, live music, road trips, snowboarding or four-wheeling.